The Korea Arts Council (Arko) announced on August 6 that it will form a new review committee to enhance the professionalism, fairness, and practical relevance of its members.Applications will be accepted from August 10 to 26 at the National Cultural Arts Support System (NCAS). Selected experts will serve as reviewers, evaluators, and advisors for Arko projects for three years, starting with the 2027 support program.To broaden participation from field experts, the eligibility criteria have been f

The government's proposed tax reform plan aimed at preventing stock price manipulation in the context of inheritance and gift tax is facing significant criticism from all stakeholders involved. The ruling party has expressed dissatisfaction, arguing that the scope of the proposal has been drastically reduced compared to the original plan, labeling it as 'ineffective.' Calls for a complete review of the proposal have emerged. Meanwhile, publicly traded companies are raising concerns about excessi

LG Uplus announced that its integrated account management service, 'Alphaki,' has become the first domestic Identity as a Service (IDaaS) to receive the Cloud Service Security Certification (CSAP) for Software as a Service (SaaS) standards. The company plans to expand the supply of Alphaki to government agencies, public institutions, and state-owned enterprises following this certification.CSAP is a system evaluated and certified by the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) to ensure that clou

Paros AI Bio has been selected as a performing organization for a national project focused on developing AI-based cancer drugs. On August 6, Paros AI Bio announced that it, along with JackTusOnco, has been chosen for the AI-based candidate substance exploration segment of the '2026 Pharmaceutical Bio Venture Collaborative Technology Development Project' organized by the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups. Paros AI Bio has built experience from candidate substance discovery to

As diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Iran continue, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested that Israel may take independent military action to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.On August 5, local time, Netanyahu stated, "Today, I heard IRGC Commander Ahmad Vahidi declare Iran's intention to continue its nuclear weapons development," adding, "As the Prime Minister of Israel, my resolve to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons is firm."While praisi

Global funds have flocked to Chinese yuan bonds.The Chinese Ministry of Finance issued 15 billion yuan in offshore yuan-denominated bonds in Hong Kong on August 5, achieving a high subscription rate of 4.67 times, according to the China Securities Journal on August 6.The bonds included 5 billion yuan maturing in two years, 4 billion yuan maturing in three years, 4 billion yuan maturing in five years, 1 billion yuan maturing in 15 years, and 1 billion yuan maturing in 30 years. The interest rates

The KOSPI index showed a cautious trend on August 6, influenced by the mixed closing of the U.S. stock market the previous night. According to the Korea Exchange, as of 9:04 a.m., the KOSPI was down 88.75 points (1.35%) at 6,509.96 compared to the previous trading day. In the securities market, institutions sold a net 73 billion won, while individuals and foreigners bought a net 78.2 billion won and 7.1 billion won, respectively. Most of the top market capitalization stocks on the KOSPI showed w

Eastar Jet recorded the highest average passenger load factor among domestic airlines in the first half of 2026.The airline announced on August 6 that its average load factor from January to June reached 93%. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's aviation information portal, Eastar Jet operated approximately 20,000 flights across about 40 routes for domestic departures and international arrivals and departures during the first half of the year. Out of a total of 3.7 m

SK Ecoplant has published its '2025 Sustainability Report' on August 6, showcasing its achievements in transitioning its business portfolio to focus on AI infrastructure.The report details significant projects, including the completion of SK Hynix's Cheongju M15X facility, the construction of a semiconductor cluster in Yongin, the Ulsan AI data center project, and the supply of fuel cells for the Bupyeong AI data center, all reflecting the company's vision centered on AI and semiconductors.SK Ec